LIONEL MESSI appeared to headbutt an Al-Ahly star as tempers flared during the Club World Cup opener.
Inter Miami were held to a goalless draw by the Egyptian side in the early hours of yesterday morning.
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The revamped 32-team tournament held in the US got off to a fiery start and Messi was at the centre of the controversy.
Inter Miami had a corner in the second-half and the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner waited in the box.
But before the ball came in, Messi lost his cool after something was seemingly said by Al-Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim.
The pair then walked towards each other and squared up.
Messi appeared to deliberately knock his head into Ibrahim as they stood face-to-face before they were separated by team-mates.
Both players went unpunished and VAR did not review the incident.
Fans were left shocked, with one saying: “Messi is shameless.”
Another commented: “That dude already has something to tell his grand-kids: ‘Messi headbutted me’.”
But others disagreed, writing: “He puts his head forward into Messi – Messi was just acting in self defence after he was headbutted first.”
It came during an ill-tempered match that saw five bookings, including ones for both Messi’s old Barcelona pals Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez.
Group A is finely poised after Palmeiras and Porto also played out a 0-0 draw last night.
Inter Miami face the Portuguese side next on Thursday night.
WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN
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